The New Orleans Pelicans battled valiantly against the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night but came up just short in a thrilling 137-136 loss. Trey Murphy shone for the Pelicans, dropping a season-high 32 points, while Zion Williamson added 29 points in 28 minutes of action.
CJ McCollum, who nailed a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to bring the Pelicans within one, etched his name in franchise history by becoming the team’s all-time leader in made 3-pointers with 629. Despite their resilience, the Pelicans couldn’t overcome the Mavericks’ torrid second-half shooting, as Dallas poured in 80 points after halftime and hit 65.9% of their shots during that stretch.
The Mavericks’ barrage from beyond the arc proved too much, with P.J. Washington leading the way by hitting all four of his fourth-quarter 3-pointers en route to a 25-point performance. Dallas built a decisive 115-105 lead early in the final period, capitalizing on a 19-9 third-quarter run that shifted momentum.
The Pelicans, now on a four-game losing streak, showed flashes of promise but continue to grapple with defensive lapses, particularly on the perimeter. With key players like Brandon Ingram still sidelined, the Pelicans are striving to regain their rhythm as they prepare to host the Boston Celtics next.
